Aron Yohannes
oregonlive.com
Actor Michael Rapaport took to social media Tuesday to reveal a stream of homophobic, misogynistic, profane and threatening private messages sent to him on Instagram from Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant.
The social media feud seemed to start in December, when Rapaport mocked Durant on Twitter after the Nets played his former team, the Golden State Warriors, on Dec. 22. In a postgame interview with TNT, Rapaport took a jab at Durant’s demeanor.
“K.D. seemed deeply in his feelings with the [TNT] crew after the game,” Rapaport tweeted at the time. “DAMNIT he’s super sensitive about everything. Don’t do the interview.”
In response, Durant DM’d Rapaport about his comments, using a string of expletives. The Nets star would go on to build an exchange with Rapaport, eventually taking shots at Rapaport’s wife and challenging the actor to a fight in New York.
In a tweet shared to his Twitter account on Tuesday, Rapaport shared screenshots of the messages from Durant, writing the following on Twitter: “I receive threats and disgusting messages DAILY, but never in my wildest dreams did I think @KDTrey5 would be among them. The (snake emoji) himself is now threatening me, bringing up my wife and wants to fight. This is supposed to be America’s sweetheart right? #ImDaRealMVP”
Warning: the tweet includes messages containing vulgar and disturbing language.
I receive threats and disgusting messages DAILY, but never in my wildest dreams did I think @KDTrey5 would be among them. The 🐍 himself is now threatening me, bringing up my wife and wants to fight. This is supposed to be America’s sweetheart right? #ImDaRealMVP pic.twitter.com/l1VQfGMMRF
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) March 30, 2021
Durant went on to apologize to Rapaport, claiming profane banter is common between them, but Rapaport wasn’t having it.
“Me and mike talk CRAZIER than this on the regular and today he’s pissed….My bad mike, damn!!” Durant tweeted. Rapaport responded with this tweet (warning: inappropriate language).
No we don’t Pussy!
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) March 30, 2021
Don’t ever threaten me again or speak on my Wife ever. Bald Head Rotten Ass Worm https://t.co/dZEyTAS8i7
Durant could potentially be subject to discipline from the NBA for his comments. The league has a strong stance on homophobic and misogynistic comments and has punished players in the past.
It’s disappointing to see how far Durant went in this situation because he shouldn’t be responding to people like Rapaport in the first place. There’s a way to respond to Rapaport’s criticism without stooping to homophobia or misogyny. Durant should be bigger than that. He’s a bigger star than Rapaport, after all, and going down that road is foolish since Rapaport thrives on stirring up controversies.
As for Rapaport, he crossed a line by revealing private messages that should have remained just that — private. That’s never OK.
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